Ink forming device for offset printing machine

ABSTRACT

An ink forming device for offset printing machines wherein an ink transfer roller interposed between an ink fountain roller and an oscillator roller, which acts as one of the ink forming rollers, is caused to press against the oscillator roller when the ink fountain roller is not supplying ink from an ink fountain, so that the ink transfer roller also functions as an ink forming roller, thus reducing the number of ink forming rollers required.

United States Patent Kaneko et al.

[54] INK FORMING DEVICE FOR OFFSET PRINTING MACHINE [72] Inventors:Tamaki Kaneko; Katsumi Mizuno,

both of Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22]Filed: Aug. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,058

' [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 6, 1969 Japan ..44/70822521 U.S. c1 ..101/217, 101/350 4 51 Int. Cl. ..B4lf 31/06, B4lf3l/l4[58] Field of Search ..101/1310. 6, 348-352, 101/357, 361, 363, 341,345, 148,207,208, 3 209, 217, 218

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 2,788,742 4/1957 French..101/351 1,926,145 9/1933 Erickson et al 101/357 2,206,269 7/1940Sinkovitz ..101/357 3,170,397 2/1965 Dutro et al. ..101/350 11513,685,444 1451 Aug. 22, 1972 3,064,564 11/1962 Lindemann 101/3512,821,917 2/1958 Buttner et a]....;....l0l/DIG. 6 1,585,367 5/1926Blaine ..l01/35l 3,120,803 2/1964 Greenwood l0l/35l 3,301,182 1/1967Leviton l0l/35l 1,383,945 7/l92l Henderson ..l0l/35l 1,558,686 10/1925Lipton et al. l0l/DIG. 6

Primary Examiner-J. Reed Fisher AttorneyHenry T. Burke, Robert S.Dunham, P. E. Henninger, Thomas F. Moran, Lester W. Clark, Gerald W.Griffin, Howard J. Churchill, R. Bradlee Boa], Thomas P. Dowd andChristopher C. Dunham [57] ABSTRACT An ink forming device for offsetprinting machines wherein an ink transfer roller interposed between anink fountain roller and an oscillator roller, which acts as one of theink forming rollers, is caused to press against the oscillator rollerwhen the ink fountain roller is not supplying ink from an ink fountain,so that the ink transfer roller also functions as an ink forming roller,thus reducing the number of ink forming rollers required.

6 Clains, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED M1822 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 3 3o 26INVENTORS TAM/J K/ KAA/EKO KAWSUM/ M/ZUA z" INK FORMING DEVICE FOROFFSET PRINTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to an ink forming device for rotary offset printingmachines.

Ink forming rollers for rotary offset printing machines function to formink to be applied to a master plate mounted on a-master cylinder. Thelarger the number of ink forming rollers, the more thoroughly the inkcan be formed. Thus, conventional rotary offset printing machines use alarge number of ink forming rollers which rotate while pressing againstone another for forming the ink. An increase in the number of rollersentails an increase in the space for mounting the rollers, therebymaking it impossible to" obtain an ink forming rollers, an oscillatorroller 9 serving concurrently as an ink forming roller, an ink transferroller 10, an ink fountain roller 1 l and an ink reservoir 13 are g theink forming device support side all supported by plates 4.

The ink transfer roller is rotatably supported by roller support arms14, (FIG. 4) which are fixed at their upper ends to a shaft 15, that is,rotatably supported by the side plates 4. The arms 14, are fixed attheir other ends to the opposite ends of a shaft 16 which is engaged atthe central portion by the forked end 17a of a member 17. The base ofthe forked member 17 is fixed to a shaft 18 rotatably supported by theside plates 4.

' The shaft 18 extends outwardly at one end through one overall compactsize in a rotary offset printing machine.

The present invention provides an ink forming device for rotary offsetprinting machines having a relatively small number of ink formingrollers thus "permitting the construction of compact rotary offsetprinting machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention embodies an ink formingdevice wherein an ink transfer rolleris adapted to function concurrentlyas an ink forming roller with an oscillator roller, so that the ink maybe formed thoroughly despite the fact that the ink forming rollers aresmallin number and comprises pivotal support means for said transferroller along with actuating and locking meansfor alternately pressing itagainst an ink fountain roller and the oscillator roller.

' The advantages'and features of the present invention will become'moreapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimentthereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of an offset.printing machine with parts broken away showing an ink forming devicecomprising one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing. the manner of operation of some of theparts of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the details of a locking member; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing part of the construction of the inkforming device according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention will be explained with reference to a preferred embodimentshown in the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, a master cylinder 2 and ablanket cylinder 3 are shown rotatably supported by two opposed sidewalls 1, of a printing machine and press against each other and rotatein the direction of respective arrows as is well known in the art. Sideplates 4 are provided on each side wall 1 for supporting an ink formingdevice and are formed with engaging portions 4a and 4b for engagingsupport rods 5 and 6, respectively, which are secured at their oppositeends to the side walls 1 of the machine. These rods 5 and 6 of the sideplates 4, and supports at its end an arm member 19 Another member 20 hasa roller 20a mounted on its upper end and engaging the lower end of thearm member 19. The baseof arm member 20 is fixed to the inner end of ashaft 21 which is rotatably supported in one of the side walls 1, andhas a pivotal lever 22 secured to its outer end. The two-armed lever 22has a roller 22a at the end of one arm. A spring 23 is mounted betweenthe other arm 22b of the-lever 22 and a. pin on the outside of the sidewall 1, so that the roller 22a is urged to bear against the peripheralsurface of the cam 24 mounted coaxially on shaft 3a, with the blanketcylinder 3 by virtue of the biasing; force of the spring 23.

A spring 25 is mounted between the shaft 16 secured to the ends of theroller support arms 14, and one of the side plates 4 as shown in FIG. 1,so that the ink transfer roller 10 is normally urged to press againstthe ink fountain roller 11. As the cam 24 rotates together with theblanket cylinder 3 in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 1, the lever22 moves in pivotal motion in a counterclockwise direction about theshaft 21' whenever the roller 22a moves from the minor diameter portionto the major diameter portion of the cam 24 and causes the arm member 20to move in the same direction. As

the arm member 20 thus moves in pivotal motion, the

roller 20a pushes the-arm member 19 to the left in FIG. I, so that the'arm member 19' moves in pivotal motion in a clockwise direction aboutthe shaft 18. The pivotal motion of the arm member 19 is transmittedthrough the shaft 18 to the forked member 17 which also moves in pivotalmotion in a. clockwise direction in FIG. 1. Since the forked member 17moves the shaft 16 downwardly, the arms 14 move in pivotal motion incounterclockwise direction about the shaft 15 into the dash-and-dot lineposition 14A. As a result, the ink transfer roller 10 moves to thedash-and-dot line position 10A where it presses against the oscillatorroller 9 which is serving concurrently as an ink forming roller.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink transfer roller 10 is maintained in pressingcontact with the oscillator roller 9 while the roller 22a is in contactwith the major diameter portion of the cam 24. As the roller 22a movesfrom the major diameter portion to the minor diameter portion of the cam24, the ,arm member 20 moves in pivotal motion in a clockwise directionin FIG. I, so that the force with which the roller 20a presses againstthe lower end of the arm member 19 is released. This permits the arms14, to be restored to their original 3 positions by the biasing force ofthe spring 25,. with the result that the ink transfer roller 10 isbrought back into pressing engagement with the ink fountain roller 11.As described therefore, the ink transfer roller 10 is fountain roller 11and theoscillator roller 9 at regular intervals to be maintained incontact with either one of ,7 and 8 to the master cylinder 2. Aconventional control means, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,926,145 orUS. Pat. No. 3,490,367; operates the cam 26 in a suitable sequence ofoperations to regulate the desired amount of ink which the ink fountainroller 1 1 will pass to the ink transfer roller 10. The action of thecam 26 is such as to lock the fountain roller 1 1 to stop the supply ofink to the transfer roller .10 and to lock the latter against theoscillator roller 9 during the ink forming operation in the manner asfollows:

The. ink fountainroller l l is also adapted to be angularly displaced asuitable amount for supplying ink from reservoir 13 to the ink transferroller 10. The amount of angular displacement'of the ink fountain roller1 l is adjusted by rotating a cam 26 shown in FIG. 3 from outside themachine so that the supply of ink to the ink transfer roller 10 can becontrolled by manipulating the cam 26. I The cam-26 is secured to ashaft 26b which loosely mounts a lock member 28 having a forward endportion 28a which is disposed below a bent engaging portion 226 at theupper end of the arm 22b of the lever 22. As

shown in FIG. 3, a resilient member 29 curved in the direction of thecam 26 is secured at the base to the arm of the lock member 28, saidresilient member having a free end which is disposed in the path oftravel of a pin 30 secured to the forward end of a projection 26a of thecam 26.v

v If the cam 26 is rotated in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 3till the projection 26a thereof is positioned against a stopper 27, thenthe ink fountain roller 11 is held against rotation and the supply ofink is stopped. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the pin 30 will move thefroller' 22a is maintained ifn h a with the major adapted to move, inpivotal motion between the ink diameter portion of the cam 24. Thus, theink transfer roller is maintained in pressing engagement with theoscillator roller 9 'as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the nu-z meral 31designates a stop which-'-'-prev'ents the downward movement of the lockmember 28 when the resilient member29 is notpressed by the projection26a. The provision of the resilient member 29: between the lock member28 and the cam 26 has the efiectof preventing undue forces from actingon theportion of the lever 22 with which the lock member 28 is broughtinto engagement. v

From the foregoing description, then it will be appreciated that the inkforming deviceaccording to this invention permits maintenance of the inktransfer roller in pressing engagement with the oscillator rollerwhen nosupply of ink is being delivered-to the transfer roller resilient member29 upwardly and the lock member 28 i will move in a pivotal motion in aclockwise direction in slaved relation, so that the upper edge of theforward end portion 280 of the member 28 is positionedagainst theengaging portion 220 of the lever 22. Thus, the en-- gaging portion 220of the ar'm22b of the lever 22 in oscillating between the solid lineposition and the dashand dotline position 22bA in FIG. 3 as the cam 24rotates, will slide along the upper edge of the forward end portion 28aof the lock member 28. When thearm 22b. is in the dash-and-dotlineposition 22bA, the engaging, portion 220 abuts against an offsetportion 28b formed on the upperedgeof the forward end portion 128aiofthe lbck member 28 (FIG. 2). In this way, the .ilp ivotal lever 22is locked in position by the lock ,mernber g28. Thislocking engagementbetween the -ji f1gvqrz;2' d the lock member 28 occurs while the fromthe ink fountain roller, thereby permitting the ink transfer roller tofunction as anfirtk forrniiig rolle r. This offers the advantage that anink forming opeiation can be performed satisfactorily in a printingmachine which, has a relatively small number of ink forming rollers.

This device can have application in all types of offset printingmachines. It is to be understood that the present invention isnotlirnited to the specific form of the embodiment shown anddescribed,and that many changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from: the spirit and scope of the in- I vention. v

What is claimed is: I, 1. An ink forming device for offset printingmachines.

comprising an ink transfer roller interposed between an ink fountainroller and an, oscillator roller and rotatably supported by pivotablesupport arms for alternately coming into contact with said ink fountainand oscillator rollers, a drive cam adaptedto rotate-in conjunction witha master cylinder, a: lever adapted to pivot in slaved relation to saiddrive cam, means for. transmitting the pivotal motion of said lever tosaid support arms for causing saidinktransfer roller to alternately comeinto contact with said ink fountain roller and said oscillator roller,an ink supply control cam for deter? mining the angular rotation of saidink fountain roller when ink is supplied to the master cylinderduringprinting and for stopping the rotation of said ink fountain roller, anda lock member operatively connected to said ink-supply control cam forengaging said lever when the control cam is in the ink fountain rollerstopping position and locking said lever when said ink transfer rolleris brought into contact with said oscillator roller to maintain said inktransfer roller in contact with said oscillator roller.

2. An ink forming device for offset printing machines having:

a. a master cylinder;

b. a blanket cylinder cooperating with said master cylinder;

c. an intermittently rotated ink fountain roller for supplying ink froma reservoir;

d. an oscillator roller for applying ink through a set of inking rollersto said master cylinder;

e. a transfer roller for transferring ink from said ink fountain rollerto said oscillator roller;

f. means for pivotally mounting said ink transfer I roller for movementbetween said ink fountain roller and said oscillatorroller;

g. means for pivoting said mounting means to cause said ink transferroller to alternately contact said ink fountain roller and saidoscillator roller; I

h. means for intermittently rotating and stopping said ink fountainroller;

i. a cam having a major diameter portion and a minor diameter portionand operatively connected to rotate with said master cylinder; and

j. follower means riding on said cam and connected to said means forpivoting said mounting means so as to control the pivoting of saidtransfer roller;

wherein the improvement comprises:

k. locking means on said means for pivoting said mounting means;

l. means actuated by said rotating and stopping means in response to thestopping of said ink fountain roller for engaging said locking means andholding said ink transfer roller against said oscillator roller whensaid ink fountain roller is stopped, whereby said ink transfer rollerand said oscillator roller cooperate to act as ink forming rollers.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises:

i. a pair of support arms, each pivoted at an adjacent end and havingthe ink transfer roller extending between them; and

j. means at the opposite ends of said support arms,

operatively connected to said pivoting means.

4. A device as in claim 2, wherein the means for engaging said lockingmeans comprises:

m. a pivotable arm member having a portion on one end for engagementwith said locking means; and

n. spring means connected to said arm member for pivoting said armmember into the locking position in response to the engagement of saidspring means by said rotating and stopping means when in the inkfountain roller stopping position.

5. A device as in claim 4, wherein the means for pivoting said mountingmeans comprises a bellcrank having said follower means on one arm, andsaid locking means comprises a portion on the other arm of saidbellcrank which engages said end portion on said arm member.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein said locking means and said armmember end portion comprises an extension on one and a recess engageableby said extension on the other.

1. An ink forming device for offset printing machines comprising an inktransfer roller interposed between an ink fountain roller and anoscillator roller and rotatably supported by pivotable support arms foralternately coming into contact with said ink fountain and oscillatorrollers, a drive cam adapted to rotate in conjunction with a mastercylinder, a lever adapted to pivot in slaved relation to said drive cam,means for transmitting the pivotal motion of said lever to said supportarms for causing said ink transfer roller to alternately come intocontact with said ink fountain roller and said oscillator roller, an inksupply control cam for determining the angular rotation of said inkfountain roller when ink is supplied to the master cylinder duringprinting and for stopping the rotation of said ink fountain roller, anda lock member operatively connected to said ink supply control cam forengaging said lever when the control cam is in the ink fountain rollerstopping position and locking said lever when said ink transfer rolleris brought into contact with said oscillator roller to maintain said inktransfer roller in contact with said oscillator roller.
 2. An inkforming device for offset printing machines having: a. a mastercylinder; b. a blanket cylinder cooperating with said master cylinder;c. an intermittently rotated ink fountain roller for supplying ink froma reservoir; d. an oscillator roller for applying ink through a set ofinking rollers to said master cylinder; e. a transfer roller fortransferring ink from said ink fountain roller to said oscillatorroller; f. means for pivotally mounting said ink transfer roller formovement between said ink fountain roller and said oscillator roller; g.means for pivoting said mounting means to cause said ink transfer rollerto alternately contact said ink fountain roller and said oscillatorroller; h. means for intermittently rotating and stopping said inkfountain roller; i. a cam having a major diameter portion and a minordiameter portion and operatively connected to rotate with said mastercylinder; and j. follower means riding on said cam and connected to saidmeans for pivoting said mounting means so as to control the pivoting ofsaid transfer roller; wherein the improvement comprises: k. lockingmeans on said means for pivoting said mounting means; l. means actuatedby said rotating and stopping means in response to the stopping of saidink fountain roller for engaging said locking means and holding said inktransfer roller against said oscillator roller when said ink fountainroller is stopped, whereby said ink transfer roller and said oscillatorroller cooperate to act as ink forming rollers.
 3. A device as in claim2, wherein said mounting means comprises: i. a pair of support arms,each pivoted at an adjacent end and having the ink transfer rollerextending between them; and j. means at the opposite ends of saidsupport arms, operatively connected to said pivoting means.
 4. A deviceas in claim 2, wherein the means for engaging said locking meanscomprises: m. a pivotable arm member having a portion on one end forengagement with said locking means; and n. spring means connected tosaid arm member for pivoting said arm member into the locking positionin response to the engagement of said spring means by said rotating andstopping means when in the ink fountain roller stopping position.
 5. Adevice as in claim 4, wherein the means for pivoting said mounting meanscomprises a bellcrank having said follower means on one arm, and saidlocking means comprises a portion on the other arm of said bellcrankwhich engages said end portion on said arm member.
 6. A device as inclaim 5, wherein said locking means and said arm member end portioncomprises an extension on one and a recess engageable by said extensionon the other.